Vanilla Girl Designs

Fashion, Jewelry, Gifts, and Diamond Rings

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Wedding Anniversary Gifts

July 15, 2011



Giving anniversary gifts originated in Central Europe. Medieval Germans presented gifts to a wife after she had lived with her husband for twenty-five years or more. The gift was usually silver and symbolized harmony. If the couple made it to fifty years, they were given a wreath of gold. This is how silver and golden wedding anniversaries came about. The first anniversary gift is supposed to be paper or plastic, the second, cotton, etc. But in the early years, most don’t stick to the protocol. When the tenth anniversary arrives, people start taking tradition a little more seriously, and this continues for the twenty-fifth (silver anniversary) and fiftieth (golden).

In most cases, people by anniversary gifts depending on what the couple may need. Some of the most popular anniversary gifts include jewelry and flowers. Candy, lingerie, beauty products and travel are also popular.

There is a list that has been compiled that gives suggested gifts that go along with each anniversary year. For example, the 10th anniversary traditional gift is tin or aluminum, or the modern day gift is diamond. The 20th anniversary traditional gift is china or the modern gift is something made of platinum. For the 25th year celebration, silver is the traditional gift and sterling silver is a popular modern day choice. Should a happy couple make it to 50 years, the traditional gift is gold, as is the modern day version.

The list can help making choosing a gift easier, but these days, anniversary gifts can be almost anything. The main thing is that you remembered the couple’s special day in some way. Sometimes, even a card will do.

Wedding Rings



Wedding rings don’t tend to get the public airing that they deserve, in your average wedding celebration. However, wedding rings are likely to be worn for the rest of the bride and grooms’ living days, so they are, arguably, the most important element of the wedding accessories.
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Wedding Rings – The Basics
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Wedding rings are exchanged as part of the ceremony, normally as vows are said by both parties. The guests do not normally see the wedding rings until after the ceremony is well and truly over, so it can be tempting to skimp on this element and save money.
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Bear in mind that the bride will almost certainly wear her wedding ring alongside her engagement ring. It is essential, therefore, that they both rings work together well. This is particularly important if the engagement ring is of an atypical shape or with a particularly large stone.
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Always consider your everyday jewelry. Although it is possible to accessorize on your wedding day to complement you choice of wedding rings, this ring will be worn every day, for many years, so it must fit in well with your general style. This is equally important for the groom, as he too will have to wear the ring for some time, so he should also consider what would go well with his usual attire.
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Contrary to popular belief, it is not essential to choose golden rings. If you prefer silver colored rings but want to retain the quality, why not consider white gold? It is also possible for the bride and groom to have different styles of ring, so do not feel pressured into selecting matching styled rings.
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Wedding Rings – Ideas for Slashing the Budget
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Whilst you want the best wedding rings possible, you do not need to spend a small fortune! Often, wedding rings are passed through the generations, particularly on the male side, so find out whether this is the case so that you can avoid the time and energy of searching for the perfect wedding rings!
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When you are selecting an engagement ring, it may be possible to negotiate a discount on wedding rings, if they are purchased at the same time. Another possible option is to consider using cheaper wedding rings for the ceremony itself and to purchase the more permanent wedding rings, at a later day. The real point of this is to spread the major expenses – weddings do not come cheaply!
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A great way to make cheaper wedding rings look unique is to have them engraved with your wedding date and your initials.
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With a little imagination, wedding rings can truly look magical, without costing the earth!

Diamond Jewelers



Diamond jewelers manifest their genius in shaping the finest diamond jewelry whether they are diamond watches, diamond earrings, diamond bracelets, diamond necklaces, or diamond rings.

The Composition of Diamond Jewelry

Considered as the leading gem in a wide array of valuable stones, the diamond is said to last forever. In contrast to the diamond’s strong character is the very simple form it has deep within. A diamond is basically comprised of crystallized carbon, a material that can generally be found in every animal, plant, and mineral known to mankind.

The diamond is believed to be the hardest matter known to all. In fact, only a diamond can cut another diamond. Despite its hardness, the diamond can also be brittle, as it may break when hit against any hard surface.

The Colors of the Diamond

Diamond jewelers enjoy working on the various colors of diamond. Most diamonds come in white, brown, and yellow. On the other hand, they also come in a variety of shades such as red, green, and blue.

The Facts about Diamonds

Diamond jewelers rate the stone’s value regarding its cut, color, carat, and clarity.

To further achieve perfection with regards to diamonds, diamond jewelers prefer to treat them. When employed, these treatments perk up the diamond’s clarity. Diamond jewelers can apply one of two treatments. One is fracture-filling, which masks visible cracks in the gem. A laser treatment, on the other hand, develops the entire appearance of the jewelry therefore making it flawless. Diamond jewelers are able to distinguish the real value of an untreated diamond as compared with that of the laser-drilled one.

Fake diamonds are, of course, much more affordable in price. These imitation pieces of jewelry are created in the image and likeness of the genuine stones.

Cleaning Diamond Jewelry

The daily use of diamond jewelry makes its luster dim. Therefore, diamond jewelers advise owners to take care of such magnificent possessions. A gentle detergent wash will sweep away the dirt buildup on the jewelry. Make use of a soft-bristled brush and small basin to hold the small pieces as you bathe them in a combination of one-half cold water and one-half ammonia solution for approximately thirty minutes. Another option is to use a special machine for cleaning diamond jewelry.

For your diamonds to last forever, it is necessary to take care of them as you would any other prized possession.